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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   News Media Contact:
January 28, 2000                             Michelle Russo at (202) 418-2358

                         
             FCC ADOPTS ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES FOR 
               RETRANSMISSION CONSENT COMPLAINTS
Rules Take Effect on May 29, 2000 and Sunset on December 31, 2001


Washington, DC   The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today will release an
Order regarding enforcement procedures for retransmission consent complaints, pursuant to the
Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act (SHVIA) that was enacted on November 29, 1999. 
These expedited procedures are designed to be responsive to complaints and require a final
decision by the FCC within 45 days of the filing of a complaint.
 
Today's action marks the fourth SHVIA proceeding in less than two months, reflecting
the FCC's intent to aggressively implement this law. This law, for the first time, permits satellite
carriers to transmit local television broadcast signals into local markets, also known as "local-into-
local." Under SHVIA, before a local television broadcast signal can be delivered into a local
market, the satellite carrier must obtain the consent of the local TV broadcaster to retransmit its
TV signal. However, the statute allowed a six-month grace period during which satellite carriers
may retransmit local TV broadcast signals without the broadcaster's permission. 

The enforcement procedural rules will take effect on May 29, 2000, when the grace period
expires and retransmission consent is required. As directed in the statute, these enforcement
procedures will sunset after December 31, 2001. These procedural rules track the statutory
requirements and incorporate two additional provisions that help facilitate the FCC's enforcement
of the rules. 

  Action by the Commission, January 27, 2000, by Order (FCC 00-22). Chairman Kennard,
Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani.

Cable Services Bureau contact: Eloise Gore at (202) 418-7200.

                                
                             -FCC-